Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB147

Introduced
1/19/23  

Caption

Providing for bridge inspection and maintenance.

Impact

The proposed bill will substantially impact existing transportation and safety laws in Pennsylvania. By creating a centralized database for bridges, it compels local and county governments to maintain consistent records and schedules for inspections and repairs. The requirements for using certified bridge inspectors are likely to upgrade the quality and reliability of inspections, thereby significantly improving the safety of these structures. Additionally, the mandate for audits by the Auditor General every four years will help ensure accountability in bridge maintenance activities.

Summary

Senate Bill 147 aims to enhance the safety and maintenance of bridges throughout Pennsylvania by establishing a comprehensive framework for bridge inspection and maintenance. The bill mandates the creation of public databases at state, county, and municipal levels, which would document critical information regarding every bridge maintained from various funding sources, including federal, state, county, and municipal funds. This legislation emphasizes transparency, as it ensures that the information is accessible to the public and organized methodically by location and engineering district.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding SB147 is largely supportive among transportation advocates and safety proponents who recognize the need for better oversight of critical infrastructure. They argue that the bill will safeguard public welfare by ensuring that bridges are regularly inspected and maintained according to established standards. However, there may be some concerns voiced by local governments regarding the burden of maintaining the extensive data required by the legislation, particularly regarding potential costs and administrative challenges.

Contention

Some points of contention may arise over the logistics of implementing the bill, especially concerning funding and resource allocation for maintaining the required databases and conducting inspections. Local jurisdictions may express apprehension about the financial implications of enforcing rigorous inspection standards and preserving a high level of transparency. As the bill requires certified professionals for inspections, questions could be raised about the availability of qualified inspectors and the impact it may have on smaller municipalities that may struggle to meet these new requirements.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB210

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program.

PA SB210

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program.

PA AB272

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program.

PA HB1203

In grounds and buildings, providing for automated external defibrillator placement, inspection, maintenance and plan; in school health services, further providing for automatic external defibrillators; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA SB620

In grounds and buildings, providing for automated external defibrillator placement, inspection, maintenance and plan; in school health services, further providing for automatic external defibrillators; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA SB512

In grounds and buildings, providing for automated external defibrillator placement, inspection, maintenance and plan; in school health services, further providing for automatic external defibrillators; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB1796

In construction, improvement, maintenance and repair of State highways, further providing for duty on Department of Highways.

PA HB312

In construction, improvement, maintenance and repair of State highways, further providing for duty on Department of Highways.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA H3313

Relative to the maintenance of private ways, bridges, and common amenities in municipalities

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.